SurLaLune Fairy Tales

If you have fairy tale or folklore related things you'd like to share, please send them to me through my website email, heidi at surlalunefairytales dot com. Read more about fairy tales at SurLaLune Fairy Tales.

The Hard and the Easy features twelve traditional Newfoundland tracks since the band hails from there. Well, The Mermaid track isn't so traditional. It is actually based on a poem by Shel Silverstein (yes, that Shel Silverstein) for Playboy Magazine back in 1966. The song is more like a somewhat naughty bar song and that is why Great Big Sea covered it since they enjoy those and this qualifies as one of the most suggestive they've recorded. And, no, it wouldn't qualify as very naughty despite its publishing history.

Through tonight--so act now--Amazon has $2.00 off an MP3 music purchase with the code CLOUDMP3. You can read the details of how to redeem it here. You don't have to spend more than $2.00 so you are essentially getting that much music free.

If you are in Michigan anytime before September, you can visit the Fairy Tale Art exhibit I wrote about in January after seeing it Mobile, Alabama this past December. I spent a week or so sharing the art, too. The best part for me in the six months since have been the times my family has mentioned the imagery from the exhibit. My mother was talking about Kinuko Craft just last week.
The exhibit is currently at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and is getting a lot of supporting programming at the museum, including a festival, workshops and music.

This summer, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and MetroParent Magazine will celebrate the magical, multi-cultural world of fairy tales with Fairy Tale Art, an exhibit featuring 59 original illustrations from well-loved classic fairy tales as well as modern variations on traditional tales. The exhibit will run July 16-September 18.

On July 23, the Ford House grounds will transform into an enchanted Fairy Tale Festival as visitors young and old escape for a day of imagination and wonder. The magic of fairy tales will be brought to life through music, performance, theatre, activities, storytelling and more.

Building on the Michigan Library summer reading theme of “One World, Many Stories,” story tellers from around Michigan will share tales from different cultures as well as the favorite story of Rapunzel presented in a variety of ways from around the world. Story circles will provide a quiet place under a tree for little princes and princess to relax and enjoy some of their favorite tales being told.

Multiple stages will feature a variety of performances, such as Magical Tunes & Marvelous Tales by the Michigan Philharmonic and fractured fairy tales - a parody of traditional fairy tales rearranged with new meaning – will be enacted by Grosse Pointe Theatre. Magic Carpet Ride Theatre will take literature and engage the audience in an interactive dramatic production. Plus puppets, music, crafts and more.

But proving fairy tales aren't just for children, writing and illustration workshops for teens and adults will also be held in the summer.

Not Just for Bedtime Anymore: Fairy Tales for the Wide Awake
August 2 / 7 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 / Click here to purchase tickets.
Wayne State University professor Dr. Donald Haase, a noted expert on the fairy tale, will consider fairy tales from an adult perspective. His talk, "Not Just for Bedtime Anymore: Fairy Tales for the Wide Awake," will explore the use and abuse of fairy tales and our continuing fascination with them in print, film, and other expressive forms.

Once Upon a Time: Writers' Discussion
August 9 / 7 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 / Click here to purchase tickets
Noted local author and National Book Award winner, Gloria Whelan will speak to aspiring authors and writers about the creative writing process. During this lively discussion, she'll share insights into her new Young Adult novel, "Small Acts of Amazing Courage" set in the India of the 1920s. Click here to purchase tickets

Capturing the Story through Art: Illustration Workshop
August 16 / 7 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 / Click here to purchase tickets.
Guests will become familiar with foundational illustration methods as well as the technical uses of various mediums, while offering insight on the process of illustrating children's books.

More Fun For Families

Twilight Fairy Desserts
August 9 / 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 per person / Click here to purchase tickets.
Enjoy an enchanted evening that begins with delightful desserts in the Costwold Cafe. Afterwards, you'll be greeted at the Play House by a fanciful fairy who will read a favorite tale. All children will receive a book to take home, courtesy of Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library. Recommended for ages 2-8.

Twilight Fairy Desserts
August 11 / 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $15.00 per person / Click here to purchase tickets.
Enjoy an enchanted evening that begins with delightful desserts in the Costwold Cafe. Afterwards, you'll be greeted at the Play House by a fanciful fairy who will read a favorite tale. All children will receive a book to take home, courtesy of Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library. Recommended for ages 2-8.

Fairy House Workshop
August 6 / 10 a.m.
Cost: $12.00 per child / Click here to purchase tickets.
Capture the magic of childhood during this wonder-filled workshop. Children and their adult companion will use natural materials to create their own interpretation of a fairy house. Completed houses will be placed in the Ford House grounds to attract any resident fairies. They will also hear a story and make a fairy terrarium to take home. Recommended for ages 5-8.

Escape for a day of imagination and wonder as the magic of fairy tales are brought to life through music, theatre, activities, storytelling and more on the enchanting Ford House grounds.

Main Stage Performances
The main stage brings fairy tales, stories and music from around the world.

Michigan Philharmonic performs Magical Tunes and Marvelous Tales
Presented by Sensors, Inc.
A delightful mix of traditional and new classics, including music from Beauty and the Beast and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Magic Carpet Ride Theatre
A theatrical experience in reading that brings the audience into the story!

Greg Lester's "Puppet Adventures"
Exquisite puppets bring the story of Jack and the Beanstalk to life as Jack finds himself on a journey through the clouds.

Marimbamania!- Music from Around the World
Get moving to the sounds of Marimbamania! with music from around the world.

Storytellers
Building on the One World Many Stories theme of the Michigan Library Association's summer reading program, well-loved storytellers will share tales from around the globe.

Loretta Vitek will tell the story of Rapunzel in a variety of ways as it has been told in different cultures.

Rosie Chapman will share unforgettable African folklore and tales and fables from around the world.

Mary Luevanos

Activities
Be part of the fantasy and escape into the magical world with hands-on activities, character visits and more.

Radio Disney's Imagination Station
Join Radio Disney for a "fantastical" make-and-take craft, temporary tattoos and a coloring station. Plus, enter to win the ultimate Disney Fairy Tale gift basket.

Alice's Wonderland
Pretend you're Alice as you play croquet with the Queen of Hearts and her Chessmen or try your hand at a life-size chess game in the garden. Then visit the Mad Hatter for some tasty treats.

Cinderella's Carriage
The stately footman will help all princes and princesses climb inside this enchanting carriage to wave to the subjects below.

Living Fairy Tale Animals
Visit the three little pigs outside their houses of straw, sticks and bricks. Or pet one of Mary's fluffy little lambs.

Mural of Stories
Leave your artistic mark by coloring a piece of a huge mural, featuring elements of children's books and fairy tales.

Character Encounters
Whether it's a swashbuckling pirate, little red riding hood or a fairy princess, characters from favorite fairy tales will be strolling throughout the festival eager to meet festival goers.

Story Circle
Gather round and relax on a blanket under a shady tree as local elementary school teachers, principals and librarians read their favorite fairy tale.

Musicians and More
Entertainment will be found throughout the enchanting grounds of Ford House including Fractured Fairy Tales performed by Grosse Pointe Theatre and Classic Children's Music performed by Russ Glenn.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

To go along with the previous post, I wanted to share the videos for the Once Upon a Tile by InterfaceFLOR advertising campaign. This company certainly put forth the time and money to create a complex and visually interesting campaign.

Well, we've not had an advertising themed post in a little while. These are so much fun and some of my favorite posts. And this is new, fairy tales to sell flooring for InterfaceFLOR. What I like is the unexpected usage of Hansel and Gretel but the omission of Snow White who is often popular for hocking stuff, usually right up there with Cindy and Sleeping Beauty.

To create the campaign, InterfaceFLOR teamed up with Checkland Kindleysides, one of the largest design consultancies, top fashion photographer Michael Woolley, along with globally renowned hair and make-up artist Mary-Jane Frost and theatrical costume designer and stylist Ameena Kara Callender.

There are also videos which I am considering putting in another post. But for now, here's the stills.

This is old news for this week now that the trailer has been seen by thousands who went to see Cars 2 this past weekend. But since Brave, formerly known as The Bear and the Bow, is touted as being based upon Scottish folklore, it is of interest here. (And I do prefer this title although I am exhausted by one word titles although I understand how well they fit in those TV guide grids and how easy they are to tweet.) I haven't read much more than that and knowing Hollywood, the source stories will probably be almost unrecognizable anyway. I'm just happy we are getting a female protagonist. Although in the descriptions, all of her supporting characters during her quest are male. Hmmmm....

Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman (Julie Walters) and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), the surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson), and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane).

I’LL tell you, mates, how she came to sea!
(Heave at the windlass! heave ho! cheerily)
She loved me, and I loved she,
For she was the gel for a Sailor!
She hailed from Wapping, her name was Sue,
And she was the daughter of a tailor,
We parted at last, but without ado
She bought both jacket and breeches blue,
And aboard she came for to join our crew
And live the life of a Sailor!

CHORUS.

Heave at the windlass! yeo heave ho!
Up with the anchor! away we go!
The wind’s off the shore, boys,—let it blow,—
Hurrah for the life of a Sailor!
YEO—HO!

II.

Our Captain he eyed her from stem to starn
(Heave at the windlass! heave ho! cheerily)
But nought of her secret could he discarn,
For his savage jib couldn’t quail her.
But when she went for’ard among the res
Her heart began for to fail her,
So she took me aside and the truth confess’d,
With her face a-blushing on this ’ere breast,
And I stared and stared, and says I, “I’m blest!
My Sue turn’d into a Sailor!”

III.

Now we hadn’t got far away from land
(Heave at the windlass, heave ho! cheerily)
When a Mermaid rose with a glass in her hand,
And our ship hove to for to hail her.
Says she, “Each wessel that looks on me,
Man-o’-war, merchantman, or whaler,
Must sink right down to the bottom of the sea,
Where the dog-fish flies and the sea-snakes flee,
Unless a Wirgin on board there be
To plead for the life of a Sailor!”

IV.

Then up jumped Sue with the breeches on!
(Heave at the windlass, heave ho! cheerily)
“You nasty hussy!” says she, “begone!”
And the Mermaid’s cheeks grew paler!
“There’s a gel aboard and her name is Sue!
A Wirgin, the daughter of a tailor,
Who’s more than a match for the likes of you!”
At this the Mermaid looked werry blue,
And then, with a splash of her tail, withdrew,
While Sue she embraced her Sailor!